I am considering getting a pair of main speakers for my 13X18 room for about 900$. I have Marantz SR8300 receiver. Based on what I read, I am seriously considering getting M60's. However, here are other ones which are also interesting for me:
Axiom M60Ti
Rockets RS550
Paradigm Monitor 11
B&W 603
PSB 6T
Boston Acoustics?

Unfortunately, I can only audition B&W 603 out of this list, so I would appreciate any commnets on how any of these stack up against each other.
Thanks!

I probably shouldn't be replying to your question because I have never heard any of the speakers on your list EXCEPT my 2 week old M60tis. I haven't had much chance to experiment with them until today.

For the first time, I turned off the subwoofer, set the M60s to "large" in the receiver's menu, and put my receiver into "stereo" mode, so that I was listening to the M60s alone. I put on a CD by the jazz group FOREPLAY, titled Between The Sheets. HOLY GUACAMOLE! So far, I've gotten up three times and squeezed myself into the corner where my subwooofer is to be sure the doggone thing was off. It was. Just to be sure, I turned the subwoofer on, leaving the mains set to "large," and yes, I could tell the difference. Most of what the sub added was more physical than aural. I'm, as yet, undecided as to which I prefer; sub on, or sub off. I do know that, for the first time in my life (58 years), I've got the musical sound I've always wanted, right in my very own living room. I am in awe! I must mention here that the FOREPLAY album is one of the best mixed CDs I've ever heard. So, that may have something to do with how great the M60's are sounding right now.

To my admittedly uneducated ear, the response of the M60s is smooth across the entire frequency spectrum. Highs, mids, bass; all there and all balanced. I'm sure a graph would refute that, but the best way I can say it is I don't feel that anything in the frequency spectrum is missing. I don't have that "I wish I was hearing more highs/mids/bass feeling" that I've had with other speakers. Because of this, I can play the music at a reasonable volume without feeling that I need to "crank" it to be thrilled by the music. But, I also don't feel that there is an excess of anything. I am ecstatic! I suppose there are "better" speakers out there, maybe even one or two that are on your list. But, I sure don't need anything "better" than the M60s. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW GOOD THESE SPEAKERS SOUND! I feel like I just won the lottery!

I have done the A/B test between my M60Ti's and Paradigm Reference 11's. Indistinguishable sound quality between the two (both excellent in my opinion) but the Axioms are better value.

I own the Epic60 System (M60Ti, VP100, QS8, and EP350) and purchased a Marantz SR-8300 four months ago in January (Off Topic: what are your thoughts on the Maranz remote?). You won't be sorry with that combination.

Sean

vasia, the B&Ws I listened to were good (don't remember the model -$2200 floorstanders w/ funny little '57 Chevy tweeters on top!), but expensive and not as much to my liking as the M60s. The Boston Acoustics I heard were pretty wooly (basically bookshelf speakers on integrated stands w/ side-firing subs). Not heard the others. You should find someone close by who will allow you to give them a listen.

i have heard all those aside from the Rockets.

Get the M60's, or the M80's if your amp can handle a 4ohm load.

I auditioned the 603s and the M60s are clearly a more robust choice. In fact, the M60s are the equal of the B&W 703s, but at 1/3 the price. Order with confidence.

Jack, we will have to work with you a bit to see if we can help you overcome your reticence to express your feelings about the M60s . I'm guessing you are making bigjohn's mouth water a bit.

I just want to reiterate what Jack said - The M60's are incredible...I spend time with mine EVERY day and have yet to have the "what ifs."

^billy

Gee, I thought I was understatingly restrained. After I finished the FOREPLAY CD, I put another CD on, and it was like "Jeez. Who sneaked in and switched my speakers. The FOREPLAY CD is truly beautifully mastered.

I'm thrilled that you like them as much as you do. I wanted to give you a couple of weeks before I asked, but you apparently didin't need nearly that long to make up your mind.

I may borrow a friend's FOREPLAY CD ( he's been after me to try it). Until I got the Axioms, I wasn't much of a jazz guy. In fact, music was generally something that existed in the background. Now I have 9 of the Rippington's CDs. Can't get enough of it.

I hope the FOREPLAY CD your friend has is Between The Sheets. I'm not familiar with any of their other CDs, but I have a sneaking suspicion I'm gonna become familiar with them. Tomorrow I gotta try my BIG PHAT BAND CD.

I recently stumbled across the music of a gentleman named Ottmar Liebert, a guitarist. If you want to make the M60s sweat a bit, this might be your guy. Helps to define the "clear, transparent, forward" nature of the M60s. Knocks my socks off. I would stay away from his "Nuevo Flamenco" CD though - it can really pummel your brain cells. Do a search on Amazon, they let you try out a few tracks.

yes, ray.. i was just grabbing a paper towel to sop-up the saliva..

i really dont think jack likes his speakers THAT much.. i think he likes rubbing it in more than anything else.

my wait is getting shorter by the day. around T minus 22 days.. i thought i would be OK with it, i was wrong!!

i am just gonna stay away from reading any post from AJAX!!

bigjohn

Your day will come Big John. And how could you even THINK of passing up my pearls of wisdom.

i didnt read that!!!

bigjohn

Where you located? Maybe the good folks here can give you an audition.

Ray, do you like the "Nuevo Flamenco" or not? I have his "Innamorare(?): Summer Flamenco" and "Little Wing". Both are excellent, excellent, excellent!!! The "Leaning into the Night" disc is a little too slow for my tastes.
BTW, isn't that group y'all are talking about called "Fourplay"?

You are absolutely correct Mark. It is FOURPLAY. My failing, aging mind just automatically turns to things with which I am familiar, and which I'm good at doing.

To quote BigJohn...

"I didn't read that!"

OK you guys! Stop pickin' on me! Have a little respect for your elders.

That's OK. It was just obligatory "picking on the bachelor." You know when you're married, they say doing some chores that your wife normally does can be foreplay... Must be a woman thing.

Mark,

After listening to 2 of his other CDs, I really wanted to like Nuevo Flamenco. My impression of the CD was that it consisted of too much single string "plinking" AND with an attitude. Almost sounded like gunfire. I really did not like it. His other CDs are very nicely blended with the other guitar and consist of nice long riffs rather than an in-your -face plink-a-thon.

As you might suspect, my life experiences don't extend to any classical music training. Hence the use of the non-technical word "plink".

bigjohn,

Here's the deal - I'm getting a mental image of you that is like Ray Milland at the end of his bender in "Lost Weekend". I also suspect that hives, stress and general lack of control of your bowels, coupled with night sweats and uncontrollable shaking are beginning to become the norm.

Good God man, beg, plead, grovel - but get permission to upgrade that Outlet order to new, right now speakers!!!! I can't handle your pain....sob.

Plink-a-thon! doesn't sound like a good disc to me. Thanks.

finger-picking or arpeggio would be the terms you were looking for, I think.

i am not to THAT level of distress yet.....YET.. give it time i guess, i will be there..

and i am not waiting on outlets, i am waiting on custom cabinets. i went with the classic oak w/burnt sienna grills. shannon insisted that the speakers match the rest of the living room furniture. but thats cool, i really think they will look much better than the basic old black. although, my sub is black.. but i am sure she will find some way to hide it.

ray, if i didnt know any better, i would think you are trying to make this wait harder and longer than it needs to be. . its all good though.. i am still getting all the loose ends together for final installiation.. speaker wires, connectors, digital cables, rca jacks, etc, etc. it is starting to become a reality.. i am still trying to find someone here in town that has a sound meter i can borrow. i dont wanna blow $20-$30 bucks on a part that i will only ever use once or twice. i need a calibrating disc while i am at it!!

bigjohn

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i am still trying to find someone here in town that has a sound meter i can borrow. i dont wanna blow $20-$30 bucks on a part that i will only ever use once or twice. i need a calibrating disc while i am at it!!

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John,

I will tell you that the investment in the SPL meter will be in your best interest. I have had mine for a couple of years and have used it more than a couple of times...If you rearrange the room, you'll need it...if you get a new DVD player, you'll need it. If you add SACD or DVD-A capability, you'll need it. If you add a different sub, you'll need it. You will want to know if you have any peaks and nulls with that new sub, right? You'll need it.

My advice: You'll need it.

AVIA is a good disk (the one I own) as well as Sound and Vision. I like AVIA best.

My .02,

WhatFurrer

bigjohn, you can also take that spl meter to the races and see how loud it gets. I used mine in class to see who was louder - me or this large obnoxious boy. He won, but it was a bonding experience for us...

ya'll need to quit givin me any ideas..

i am gettin this evil, demented plan of measuring the decible output from my a$$, after a large bowl of pintos w/jalapenos and cilantro. i told you it was demented..

i DONT think i will include that in the list of things to use to try and convince my wife we need to buy one..

bigjohn

But it is a fun little meter...

for instance, a good way to get yourself a nice couch-sleeping spot would be to hold it up the next time your wife is yelling at you and ask her to keep it under 60 dB.

another example, my friend's car has a big old hole in his muffler, and he refuses to get it fixed. So I measured the dB level in the passenger seat and sent him some email links to hearing loss websites.

Also you can look up your local noise ordinance and find out what volume you can crank things up to while remaining below the legal dB level. It would be fun to explain to the police when they showed up to ask you to turn it down that you were technically "below the legal limit"

I'm sure I'll come up with some more as time goes by...

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Also you can look up your local noise ordinance and find out what volume you can crank things up to while remaining below the legal dB level. It would be fun to explain to the police when they showed up to ask you to turn it down that you were technically "below the legal limit"

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i like this one!! i dont think i have ever said that to a cop before in my life!!

bigjohn

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ray, if i didnt know any better, i would think you are trying to make this wait harder and longer than it needs to be.

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Yeah, Ray has that Viagra effect on some people.

LOL!

To quote BigJohn...

"I didn't read that!"

viagra, levitra, cialis.... its all the same.

i am hoping by some miracle that i will get an email telling me that my speakers are finished 3 weeks early, and they will be here in 2 days. of course, this isnt a 'moses parting the red sea' type miracle necessity, so i imagine i will have to wait it out.

ray, now you wouldnt know anything about that viagra stuff, would ya??

BTW-to the guy that started this post, YES, get the M60's...

bigjohn

Actually, I have a 40 lb Viagra lick. Pretty expensive.

bigjohn, I'm just trying to make light of the situation. I waited for two days and it killed me. Believe me, I feel your pain. I hope they ship early for you.

As far as the SPL meter is concerned, it's not a "one use" kind of thing. I use mine at least a couple of times per month. You will need it as you reposition the speakers and subs for a variety of reasons. Also, I tend to fool around with me surrounds and the sub, naturally requiring readjustment. The meter stands right there with vise grips, electric can openers and, of course, the Viagra lick. All things you are glad to have if the need arises.

Jeez! No wonder you want to sell your wife. At only 40 lbs, she can't be more than skin and bones!

ray,

you forgot one other VERY important thing on that list:

a chainsaw.

Man cannot live well sans the chainsaw.

amen.

^billy

peter- thats classic man.. absolutely hilarious. i guess i should be typing, LOL, or ROTF, or even better ROTFLMAO.

wit is a great thing..

and ray, please keep making light of my situation.. laughing is better than crying.

bigjohn

If you REALLY want to cry, just try carrying a Viagra lick all over the house! I also had to get an Advil lick to help with the pain of carrying the Viagra lick. I may need to have tongue replacement surgery.

BTW - are we anywhere near the subject of this thread?

i dont think so.. in the last three threads, i have seen the words, "viagra", "lick", and "chainsaw"..

i would definitely say we got off track somewhere!!

bigjohn

ROFLMAO!

Just the image of the giant pills...

That was clever.

Well, I happen to have a copy of Between the Sheets, so I listened to it on just the M60's. You're right - very nice! If you like that, I bet you'll also like Ry Cooder and Manuel Galban's Mambo Sinuendo, which also sounds gorgeous on these speakers. Lots of latin percussion, great guitar, vocals, & strong bass. My favorite album of last year.

A few reviews:
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Are you sure you want to encourage me?